Cushioning mechanism



June 19, 1934.. D. c. DAVIS 1,963,077

CUSHIONING MECHANISM Filed May 12, 1928 FIG. 5

PIC-L3 FIG. 2

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CUSHIONING MECHANISM Donald C. Davis, Depew, N. Y.; Lou Bradshaw, executrix of estate of said Donald C. Davis, deceased, assignor to The Gould Coupler (30., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Maryland Application May 12, 1928, Serial No. 277,308

9 Claims. (Cl. 213-) Ihis invention relates to cushioning mecha- Referring to the drawing illustrating my invennism and more particularly to friction draft gears tion, the scope whereof is defined by the apfor railway rolling stock having improved repended claims: leasing qualities. Figure l is a side elevation, partly in vertical I The principal object of my invention, generally longitudinal section, of one embodiment of my considered, is to provide a friction draft gear invention. particularly adapted for railway service and Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view on the formed with wedges and rocking Wedge plates disline 22 of Figu looking in the direction Of posed between said wedges and the gear casing the arrows.

10 for improving the releasing qualities of the gear, Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on the the inner ends of said wedges being formed to l e 3 of Figure looking in the direction interlock with the adjacent follower for preventof the arrows. ing the resilient means between the Wedges from Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view on the slipping off or becoming displaced beyond the line ls-4 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of 15 ends thereof, whereby sticking due to these causes the arrows. is obviated. Figure 5 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectional Another object of my invention is to provide View on the line 55 of Figure looking in th a cushioning mechanism or draft gear for raildirection of the arrows. way rolling stock comprising a casing, friction Fig r 6 is a r ry id l va ional view 20 wedges, and resilient means urging said wedges of an associated wedge block and intermediate apart, the friction surface on said casing being follower illustrating a modified form of interprovided with removable wedge plates which are locking construction. adapted to rock longitudinally of the casing for Figure 7 is a fragmentary View, corresponding varying the angle of the friction surfaces so that to gu ut Showing e modified form illus- 25 a slight preliminary movement is provided for trated in Figure 6. upon release of the gear to obviate sticking. Referring to the drawing in detail, like Parts A further object of my invention is to provide being designated b l r f rence har ct rs. cushioning mechanism for railway rolling stock and first considering he embodiment of my in involving a housing with inset replaceable plates vention illustrated in Figure 1 t0 n v 30 providing friction surfaces for engagement with there s Shown at Cushioning mec is 1, pa

friction wedges, said plates being adapted to rock ticularly adapted for use with railway draft riginwardly upon compression of the gear for deg nd d gned So t at it Will fit in a draft creasing the angle of their friction surfaces and gear poeket Of a desired SiZe- Said gear ad p to rock outwardly upon release of the gear for ed to cooperate with a follower 2 and may be em- 35 increasing the angle of their friction surface with Ployed with the usual form of draft rigging. If

respect to the casing whereby sticking of said employ d W th t usual type of Farlow attachgear is obvi ted, ments embodying a horizontal yoke, the gear is A still further object of my invention is to prodesirably used with its long transverse axis vervide a cushioning mechanism comprising a houstical, whereas if employed with a vertical yoke 40 ing formed with inclined friction surfaces at the the long transverse axis is preferably disposed open end thereof, wedge blocks engaging said horizontally, as will be understood. The assofriction surfaces and urged apart by resilient ciated draft rigging parts are not shown because means, preferably in the form of curved plate they are well-known and form no part of the springs, a follower disposed inwardly of said invention.

45 wedge blocks and urged outwardly by resilient In the present form of my invention the cushmeans, said follower and the engaging ends of ioning' mechanism disclosed comprises a casing said blocks being formed to interlock or formed or housing 3, desirably closed at one end by a with complementary inter-engaging serrations wall 4, which may form either the front or rear for preventing said springs from slipping off the end of the gear, as desired. The open end of the 50 ends of said wedges and causing sticking of the barrel or casing 3 has formed in it, preferably gean in a pair of opposite walls 5 thereof, pockets or,

Other objects and advantages of the invendepressions 6, normally receiving removable tion relating to the particular arrangement and wedge or wear plates 7. The inner surface 8 of construction of the various parts will become apsaid plates '7 may be hardened and inclined to.

55 parent as the description proceeds. take the place of the usual integral or fixed m clined friction surfaces of such gears. On account of having the wedge plates '7 removable, they may be replaced when worn, and when removed from position the opening into the casing 3 is unusually large, thereby permitting assembly of the parts of the gear adjacent the closed end 4 thereof.

In the present embodiment the wedge plates 7 are formed with longitudinally curved-trunnion means or rocker portions 9 engaging and snugly received in corresponding bearings or recesses 10 in the walls 5 of the barrel or casing 3, the surface of said plates 7 beyond said lugs being formed with suflicient clearance for permitting longitudinal rocking or angling of the plates with respect to the casing, to alternately engage portions of the walls 5 forwardly and rearwardly of the recesses 10, whereby the angle of the friction surface 8 is adapted to vary in accordance with whether the gear is being compressed or released. The fulcrum portions 9 are preferably curved about relatively short radii to minimize the frictional moments.

Cooperating with the wedge plates 7 are wedges or wedge blocks 11, which may be of approximately the usual form with friction surfaces 12 inclined to correspond with the normal or mean inclination of the friction surfaces 8 on the wear plates 7. The inner ends of said wedge blocks 11 are preferably provided with outwardly extending flanges 13 hooked over or interlocking with the inner ends of the wear plates 7 to limit outward movement of said wedge blocks. Said blocks may be of'hollow construction, as illustrated, and

' provided with a. central stiffening rib 14'. The

inner surfaces 15 of said wedge blocks, when the parts of the gear are in normal position, may be substantially parallel with respect to each other and resilient means 16 are normally positioned therebetween for spreading said wedge blocks and urging the same into engagement with the friction surfaces on the wear plates '7. Said resilient means 16 preferably comprises curved plate springs arranged in two groups, with theconcave sides of said groups disposed outwardly in engagement with the inner surfaces 15 of the wedge blocks 11. is illustrated in the form of curved plate springs, I do not wish to be limited to such construction, as resilient means of other forms may be employed;

The inner surfaces of the flanges 13 on the Wedge blocks 11 are normally alined' and engaged by an intermediate follower, 17, the outer surface of which or that engaging the wedge blocks 11 being preferably formed with a pair of depressions or inset portions 18 and the inner ends of the wedge blocks 11' are formed with interlocking projections 19, which extend into said depressions 18; The width of said extensions 19 and depressions 18 is preferably less than the width of the follower 1-7'and the engaging wedge blocks 11 and the function of said interlocking engagement is to prevent the inner ends of the leaf springs 16 from slipping off or becoming disengaged from the-inner surface of the wedge blocks 11, it being understood that even though said plates upon closure of the gear lengthen out to engage the follower 17, the inner ends thereof cannot slip entirely off the inner surfaces of said extensions'lQ on the wedge blocks 11. By virtue of this construction the plates are maintained inengagement with the inner surfaces of the wedgeblocks, whereby the full force of said- Although said resilient means corresponding formation may be provided between the outer ends of said blocks and the follower 2 but this is not necessary because the springs can be positioned nearer the inner ends of the wedge blocks so there is no danger of them slipping off the outer ends thereof.

In Figures 6 and 7 an alternative or modified construction is illustrated, the inner ends of the wedge blocks 11 being each formed with a pair of extensions 19 at the sides of said blocks engaging in correspondingly formed depressions 18 in the outer face of the intermediate followers 17 In this embodiment the inner ends of the springs never extend beyond the extensions 19 on the wedge blocks 11* and therefore are maintained in the desired operative relation with respect to said blocks. In both forms of interlocking construction the depressions 18 and 18 are extended upwardly and downwardly toward each other so as to permit the movement of the wedge blocks 11 and 11 toward each other upon closure of the gear.

Engaging the inner surface of the intermediate follower 17 or 1'7 is resilient means 20 which, in the present embodiment, takes the form of an outer helical spring 21 and an inner helical spring 22, although it will be understood that any suitable resilient means may be employed' for the purpose, said means serving to urge the intermediate follower outwardly into engagement with the inner ends of the wedge blocks to effect release of the gear.

From the foregoing disclosure of my invention it will be apparent that I have devised an improved form of cushioning mechanism or draft. gear adapted for use on railway rolling stock in which sticking of the wedges. or wedge blocks. is minimized, either by the provision of rocking; wedge plates which provide a reduced angle of inclination of the friction surfaces upon closure of the gear and an increased angle of inclination upon release of the gear, whereby such release is facilitated, This anti-stickingsarrangement may be used, alternatively or in combination with the afore-described interlocking construction. between the inner ends of the wedge blocks and the engaging face of the-intermediate follower, whereby the curved; leaf springs. dis,- posed between said wedge blocks are prevented from slipping off. the inner .ends thereof with a: consequent decrease in their effective force and. the resultant possibility of sticking. Although the interlocking construction-isshown applied to. only the inner ends of thewedges and the interme-- diate follower, itwillibe' understood that this dis-- closure is: merely illustrative and not limiting,

Having thus described my invention, I: claim-:

1. A cushioning mechanism adapted for use with railway draft rigging, comprising; a casing. having an open end, and provided with inclined" frictionsurfacesadjacent said end, wedgeblocksv with, correspondingly inclined surfaces engaging. said friction surfaces, resilient means disposed: between said wedge blocks to: urge thesame.- against said friction surfaces, a. follower positioned'inwardly of said wedge blocks, and resilient means disposed. between said follower and the" closedend of said casing for urging said.v wedgeblocks outWardly-thereoflthe inner ends. of said? wedge blocksand the engaging surface of: saidfollower being formed to interlock for preventing said first-mentioned resilient means from slipping off the inner ends of saidwedge blocks.-

2'. A cushioning mechanism adapted foruse with railway draft? rigging, comprising a: casing;

too

closed at one end and open at the other, said open end being provided with inclined friction surfaces, wedge blocks with correspondingly inclined surfaces engaging said friction surfaces, resilient means disposed between said wedge blocks to urge them against said friction surfaces, a follower positioned inwardly of said wedge blocks, and resilient means disposed between said follower and the closed end of said casing for urging said wedge blocks outwardly thereof, the inner ends of said wedge blocks being formed with extensions of less width than said resilient means engaging in corresponding depressions in the adjacent face of said follower for preventing the resilient means disposed between the wedge blocks from displacement beyond the ends thereof.

3. A cushioning mechanism adapted for use with railway draft rigging, comprising a casing closed at one end and open at the other, said open end being provided with inclined friction surfaces, wedge blocks with correspondingly inclined friction surfaces engaging said friction surfaces, curved plate springs disposed between said wedge blocks to urge the same against said friction sur-- faces, said springs being formed as two sets with their concave sides disposed against the wedge blocks, a follower positioned inwardly of said wedge blocks, and extensions on said blocks fitting in corresponding depressions in said follower, said extensions being of less width than said springs, whereby the inner ends of said springs are prevented from displacement beyond the ends of said wedge blocks upon closure of the mechanism.

4. A cushioning mechanism adapted for use with railway draft rigging, comprising a casing having an open end and provided with recesses in the inner surfaces of opposite walls thereof adjacent said end, wedge plates seated in said recesses providing normally inclined friction surfaces and formed with lugs curved about short radii to provide trunnion means normally snugly received in corresponding pockets in the recessed portions of said walls for angling movement therein, wedge blocks with correspondingly inclined friction surfaces engaging the friction surfaces on the plates, resilient means disposed between said wedge blocks, a follower disposed inwardly of said wedge blocks, and resilient means disposed between said follower and the closed end of said casing for effecting release of said mechanism, the inner ends of said wedge blocks and the adjacent surface of said follower being adapted to interlock for preventing the resilient means disposed between the wedge blocks from displacement beyond the ends thereof.

5. A cushioning mechanism adapted for use with railway draft rigging comprising a casing, one end of which is provided with inclined friction surfaces, wedge blocks with correspondingly inclined friction surfaces engaging the friction surfaces of the casing, resilient means disposed between said wedge blocks to urge them against said friction surfaces, a follower engaging corresponding ends of said wedge blocks, said ends and the engaging surfaces of said follower being formed tointerlock for preventing said resilient means from slipping off the corresponding ends of said wedge blocks.

6. A cushioning mechanism adapted for use with railway draft rigging comprising means providing friction surfaces, friction blocks engaging said friction surfaces, plate springs disposed between said blocks to urge them into engagement with the friction surfaces, a follower associated with corresponding ends of the friction blocks, said ends of said friction blocks and the engaging portion of the follower being formed with complementary extensions and depressions for preventing the springs from displacement beyond the ends of said friction blocks.

'7. Cushioning mechanism adapted for use with railway draft rigging comprising a casing having an open end and provided with recesses in the inner sides of oppositely disposed walls thereof adjacent said end, wedge plates with lugs seated in depressions in said walls and providing fulcrums about which said plates are adapted to angle, said plates providing replaceable wear surfaces disposed at a certain angle when the gear is being compressed, and angling outwardly to a greater angle to obviate sticking and facilitate release when the pressure on said gear is removed, wedge blocks with wear surfaces inclined to correspond with the inclination of the wear surfaces on said plates when the mechanism is not being compressed, and resilient means disposed between said wedge blocks to press them against said plates.

8. Cushioning mechanism adapted for use with railway draft rigging comprising a casing having an open end and provided with recesses in the inner sides of opposite walls thereof adjacent said end, removable wedge plates seated in said recesses and provided with lugs curved about short radii, said walls having corresponding depressions snugly receiving said lugs, clearance being provided between said wedge plates and said walls to allow a limited amount of angling of said plates about said lugs, said plates providing replaceable friction surfaces inclined at a certain angle when the gear is being compressed and angling outwardly to a greater angle to obviate sticking and facilitate release when the pressure on said gear is removed, wedge blocks with friction surfaces engaging and inclined to correspond with the inclination of the friction surfaces on said plates when the mechanism is in normal position, and resilient actuating means for said wedge blocks and plates.

9. Cushioning mechanism adapted for use with railway draft rigging comprising a casing having an open end and provided with recesses in the inner sides of oppositely disposed walls thereof adjacent said end, wedge plates with lugs seated in depressions in said walls and providing fulcrums about which said plates are adapted to angle, said plates providing replaceable wear surfaces disposed at a certain angle when the gear is being compressed, and angling outwardly to a greater angle to obviate sticking and facilitate release when the pressure on said gear is removed, wedge blocks with wear surfaces inclined to correspond with the inclination of the wear surfaces on said plates when the mechanism is not being compressed and flanges which hook over the inner end portions of said plates to limit outward movement of said blocks and normally hold said plates positioned at maximum angularity, and resilient means for actuating said wedge blocks and plates.

DONALD C. DAVIS. 

